Conversations with Sheree Braswell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheree Braswell.  

Hi Sheree, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a mental health awareness advocate. I was diagnosed with mental illness at the age of 16 years old. Back then, mental health awareness wasn’t as trendy as it is now, therefore, I was walking in shame and in silence in my earlier years. I would go on and off taking my medication but it wasn’t until one of my hospitalizations in psychiatric care in 2014 that I decided I was going to take my medications daily and consistently. I was then officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was labeled mentally disabled. From that moment, I knew it was time to let go of the shame and start blogging my journey with my mental health struggles and being open with others, in which I did during mental health awareness month in May 2016. I started joining the mental health walks here in Detroit with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), hosted mental health first aid for youth and adults, and suicide prevention trainings with Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), and received a mini-grant through them to expand my advocacy. I’ve recently done a mental health advocacy video with DWIHN to help stop Michigan current legislations from eliminating public mental health services and privatize it. My mission is to inform and break the stigma when it comes to mental illness, especially when it comes to those of faith and in the African American community. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University last month, April 2022 with my Bachelor’s in Communication and minor in Family Sociology. My plan is to pursue next a Master in Social Work and eventually a Ph.D. in Psychology. I want to become a therapist and help those, especially with mental illness to know that it is possible to manage your illness, overcome barriers and have a healthy and functional life. 

I can only give credit to GOD and the many prayers and support of close family and friends to get where I am today. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. It has been filled with many ups and downs. Even recently, I had a hospitalization during Thanksgiving week in 2021. And yes, I spent Thanksgiving Day in the hospital. I’ve learned with my mental health journey that healing isn’t always linear. I’ve been hospitalized 5 times. The recent hospitalization was the only voluntary one where I checked myself in. As an advocate, I saw the signs and symptoms where I needed to check myself in. There were a lot of stressors and I was filled with much grief in 2021. Checking myself in was wisdom and was a form of self-care. It opened myself to see some of the things I’ve blogged about come to pass by watching patients receive flowers while in the hospital or hearing how an 18-year-old African American girl’s boyfriend encouraging her to check herself in. That brought so much joy in my heart. In my journey, I spent the first 6 years in denial about having an illness. I was trying to fast and pray it away. But after so many attempts and even making holistic changes; unfortunately, my mental health was declining. God showed me that he uses medicine to heal people as well. I even attended my church home and had a pastor who had it in their mission statement that believed God uses doctors and medicine to heal. However, it took me a while to accept and learn that God’s sovereignty in healing me was through doctors and medicine. I had to unlearn what so many people of faith has taught that you need more faith when it comes to healing with mental illness but that’s not the case. We would never say that to someone with diabetes or cancer. We must see mental illness as the same as cancer and diabetes. The brain plays a huge role in how we function and operate daily and having a chemical imbalance is real. Taking medication to treat myself was the best decision I could have made for myself. Medication re-adjustments were needed at times. I’m grateful for a wonderful therapist for over 10 years who has educated and helped me manage my illness, overcome barriers I set for myself and walked with me through my healing journey. Her outlook and acceptance when it came to mental illness is what I needed. I thank God for blessing me with amazing and supportive therapist. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known for sharing my mental health journey as a mental health awareness advocate. I am known for my transparency and openness when it comes to mental illness sharing my highs and lows with bipolar disorder. I am also an author of three published books all sold on Amazon that shares parts of my journey with my mental health. I’ve written a self-esteem book for girls and women and two eBooks concerning the pandemic called Dear Pandemic. 

I am most proud of walking in my purpose when it comes encouraging those with mental illness to not feel alone in their struggles. It brings joy to my heart when I receive a DM or comment on my blog post saying that it encouraged someone or them opening up to me about their struggles with their mental illness. I am thankful for the messages when people are letting me know that I blessed them and sending me words of encouragement to continue on. I am grateful when I called not only brave but inspirational. It’s definitely affirming that I am walking in my true calling. God told me 10 years ago, that I was to encourage those with mental illness. He encouraged me in 2014 after being labeled mentally disabled to become an advocate and it was confirmed by my pastor that same year who encouraged me to do the same. 

What set me apart from others is that I am very open and tend to share a lot of details in my blog and books about my mental health journey living with a severe mental disorder. I am a young Black and beautiful Christian woman who is unashamed to share her story to bring healing and freedom to others. I added beautiful because every time I went to the psychiatric hospital, men were so surprised that I was in the hospital. They would comment on how I was too fine to be in there. I want to let others know that there are many beautiful young Christian Black women and even men, living with a mental disorder and seeking treatment. Our illness and diagnoses doesn’t define who we are. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate against age, sex, gender, race, and/or religion. 

We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking?
My view on risk-taking in my case is knowing that others may judge and even discriminate against me by being open about living with a mental illness but learning how to NOT care a single bit about it. Taking the risk to share my story opened so many doors for me. If I would have stayed silent or in shame, I could have missed out on opportunities that could bring me true freedom. I would have continued in insolation and feeling so alone when there are millions of people living with a mental illness that may be waiting to hear my story. I am thankful for the risk-takers who paved the way for so many people with mental illness to share their story and be a safe place. Trailblazing and going against the grain isn’t easy and there are tons of people who are still living with the stigma, but I believe we will beat it. We have come a long way. I’m doing my part and there are so many others who are fighting to silence the shame and break the stigma when it comes to mental illness as well. I will continue to be that risk-taker to pave the way for what I was looking for when I was 16 years old being diagnosed with mental illness. This is only the beginning… 

Pricing:

• Dear Pandemic: How I Lived in Quarantine Before It Happened $8 on Amazon Kindle
• Dear Pandemic: 10 Day Prayer and Gratitude Survival Guide $8 on Amazon Kindle
• All That Glitters Ain’t Gold- A Guide for Every Girl to be Godly Esteemed $5 on Amazon Kindle
• All That Glitters Ain’t Gold- A Guide for Every Girl to be Godly Esteemed $9.99 on Amazon Paperback

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shereebraswell.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheree.p.braswell/

Image Credits
Olivia B. Photography